Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative: Five year review: Lapsing program report

John Söderbaum

Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative (VLSCI)

Published 2015-09-04

ACIL Allen Consulting was commissioned to prepare a lapsing program evaluation report on the Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative (VLSCI). The VLSCI is a research infrastructure funding initiative that provides supercomputing facilities and resources to support and strengthen life sciences research in Victoria. The report examined the Initiative’s benefits, the operations, mechanisms and processes used to deliver those benefits, and assessed the Initiative’s value for money for the Victorian Government, industry and the research community. ACIL Allen’s report concluded that:

· The role of information technology in life science research is strong and growing

· The Victorian Government’s decision to invest in the VLSCI was sound

· VLSCI has met or exceeded the objectives set for it

· VLSCI has improved the sustainability of its operations

· There is a good case for government to support VLSCI in the future

ACIL Allen also identified and assessed a number of strategies and initiatives designed to mitigate the future risks facing VLSCI’s ongoing sustainability.